Meisho Doto's personality was timid. This was something everyone at Tracen Academy who knew Meisho Doto was aware of.
Doto was clumsy, often made mistakes in small matters, and her luck wasn't very good; she always seemed to run into problems, even if everything had been fine during the last check.
Meisho Doto's timid personality would improve slightly on the Racecourse. Although her competitive spirit might have been a notch below other Uma Musume, her talent had always supported her until she won her Debut Race and indeed, as Doto thought, part of the reason she won was good luck, as she hadn't faced overly strong opponents.
Therefore, Doto admired Opera O, who was always so confident. Even though she had only won a Debut Race, the dazzling, confident Opera O, who proclaimed herself "The Overlord" at the time, earned Doto's admiration.
But Doto never understood why she found Opera O so special.
Perhaps it was a subtle influence that made Doto feel she too could become confident. Or perhaps… a subtle connection between the two Horse Girls?
This was Doto and Opera O's first confrontation. They had never even trained together before, but from the moment Doto stepped onto the Racecourse for this first race, a very strange feeling welled up in her heart.
Doto had never experienced this feeling, but if other Uma Musume could empathize with Doto, they would immediately recognize this emotion an emotion called "competitive spirit."
Yes, competitive spirit. Doto was now burning with an unprecedented competitive spirit. If this competitive spirit had not been ignited before this point in the race, then the moment Opera O's Presence struck, it was as if a spark had been added to dry tinder, instantly igniting a raging inferno in Doto's heart!
"Don't get in my way!"
"I want to win! I want to win! This race! I must win!"
"I can lose to anyone, but I don't want to lose to you Opera O!!"
At this moment, this voice, suppressing anger, repeatedly echoed in Doto's mind, as if a once meek person had suddenly erupted after enduring repeated humiliation. This voice ignited Doto's anger, and an unprecedented power burst forth in her heart!
No matter what, I must win, for my Trainer, and for myself, in my role as Opera O's opponent!
Even if my legs give out, I must win today!
"Meisho Doto continues towards the finish line! The distance between Opera O and Meisho Doto is constantly closing! Now there's less than ten meters to the finish line!"
"Go, Doto!"
And at this moment, even Wada excitedly gripped the railing with both hands, shouting towards Doto: "Go win! You must win!"
"Waaahhhh!!!" Doto also roared as she moved her legs. Her footwork didn't falter in the slightest, but under Opera O's powerful Last Spurt, the gap between them continued to close.
All of this seemed to happen very slowly, but in reality, it was less than two seconds. The gap between Doto and Opera O was closing, and Doto could feel Opera O's figure in her peripheral vision.
But the more this happened, the more Doto refused to give up, pushing forward with all her might. Only the finish line remained in her eyes!
And at this moment, the finish line was just one step away from her!
In this instant, Opera O also nearly reached a position parallel to Meisho Doto, but at this moment, Opera O silently closed her eyes, a slight smile appearing on her lips… "So that's it… That's what this is all about."
Opera O murmured, seemingly understanding something in that moment. In her mind, with her eyes closed, Wada Ryuji's face flashed.
It seems… I didn't lose to Doto, but to you, Wada.
From the very beginning, when you chose Meisho Doto, you were planning all of this, weren't you?
You knew Doto's special quality, which is why you used her to compete against me. You knew that my Presence might intimidate other Uma Musume, but it wouldn't intimidate Doto.
Because you understand everything about me more than I imagined.
Truly… I've been defeated by you.
A wry smile slowly appeared on Opera O's lips, and when she opened her eyes again, the finish line had already been crossed… "They've crossed the line! Almost simultaneously! Meisho Doto and Opera O crossed the line almost simultaneously!" The excited voice of the commentator immediately came through, shouting to all the fervent spectators: "But there are no ties in a race! Therefore, we will use video judgment to determine the race result. Please, all spectators and Uma Musume, wait quietly."
"Staff member, please watch the video with the judges and make the final decision."
The commentator's voice slowly faded. At this moment, the other Uma Musume had also finished crossing the line, and their rankings were announced one by one on the large screen displaying the race results, until only the top two names remained.
And at this moment, the panting Meisho Doto, enduring the sensation of her muscles tearing, stared blankly at the big screen, not daring to relax for a second.
Opera O was also struggling greatly, yet she seemed to already know the result, merely offering a strained smile as she watched the screen.
And countless spectators, Uma Musume, all stared intently at the big screen, awaiting the final result… "You must win, you must win." Wada also tightly gripped the railing with both hands, his eyes fixed on the big screen, not blinking once. Although he wasn't participating in the race, he was now sweating profusely from nervousness.
Everyone at the Racecourse was silent. This stillness lasted for several minutes, and finally, with a sound, the final result was announced with the commentator's excited words!
"The race result is out! The winner is Meisho Doto!"
"Unbelievable! Meisho Doto surpassed Opera O by one-third of a chest! GIII Mainichi Hai! The final winner is Meisho Doto!"
Accompanied by the commentator's excited and incredible voice, all the accumulated passion and frenzy of the spectators erupted violently at this moment. Continuous applause echoed throughout the entire Hanshin Racecourse, solely for the sole winner.
However, at this moment, Doto, having exited the race state and gradually recovering her mental composure, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, wailed and bent over, covering her face with her hands. One of her legs restlessly pawed at the grass, as if she wanted to find a hole to crawl into… "Hahahaha… This really is… a dramatic scene."
And Opera O, hearing this result, also had a somewhat strange expression. She had already guessed she would lose; she knew she would lose from the moment she crossed the finish line, but she hadn't expected to lose so… completely.
She wanted to maintain the demeanor of "The Overlord" as always, expressing her current feelings with a hearty laugh, but upon hearing that she had lost by "one-third of a chest," Opera O couldn't laugh.
She even instinctively glanced at herself, then at Meisho Doto's unscientifically curvaceous figure beside her, and suddenly a very strange… jealousy welled up from the bottom of her heart.
"No, no, how can I, as The Overlord, show jealousy over such a small matter? This doesn't align with my tolerance and magnanimity as The Overlord, hahahahahahaha…"
However, Opera O also talked to herself and moved past this. And just as Opera O was about to go to Doto's side, to offer some encouragement to her respectable opponent and most cherished subject, to help her gracefully accept her status as the victor… "Oh, someone has suddenly arrived at the Racecourse? It seems to be Meisho Doto's Trainer. Is he here to give his in charge Uma Musume a hug?"
"Tra-Trainer?!"
However, the commentator's voice quickly jolted Doto out of her embarrassment. When she looked up in that direction, she saw that Wada, along with Ikezoe and Trainer Tojo Hana, had all arrived.
And at this moment, it was Wada who spread his arms towards her, clearly intending to give Doto a big hug.
This, this, this what should she do?! At this moment, Doto, whose brain had crashed, was at a loss. But her legs reacted before her brain, taking a few steps forward… All of these actions were fully observed by Opera O, who was standing nearby. However, at this moment, even Opera O, who hadn't been jealous about "one-third of a chest," subtly showed a trace of… displeasure.